Rapelje, Montana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rapelje, Montana
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incorporated community
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Rapelje, Montana
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| Nickname(s):
City of wheat
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| Motto(s):
"Home is where the heart is"
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 Rapelje, Montana
Location in Montana
Rapelje, Montana
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Montana |
| County | Stillwater |
| Elevation | 4,071 ft (1,241 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 110 |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
59067
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| Area code(s) | 406 Exchange: 663 |
| GNIS feature ID | 777090 |
Rapelje is an unincorporated community in northern Stillwater County, Montana, United States. Rapelje was named for J. M. Rapelje, general manager and vice president of the Northern Pacific Railway. Rapelje had a population of approximately 110 people as of the 2000 census. Rapelje is located 24 miles north of Columbus on Montana Secondary Highway 306.
Contents
History
First of all, Rapelje was named originally called Lake Basin due to its geographical landscape, but in 1913 it was named after J.M. Rapelje, who was one of the heads of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Rapelje was first established as a town where local railroad workers of the Northern Pacific Railway would live in the late 1800s. As more and more people began to work at the railroad, the town grew bigger in both size and population. They had multiple attractions such as a hotel, a grocery store, a town hall, a K-12 school, and many other things. A post office was established in 1913, and the four grain towers (which are still there today) were put in business. A railroad destination point, Rapelje developed into a reasonable town with a number of grain elevators, its own school district, an evangelical church, a cafe, and later on a violin shop and clothing business. In 1980, the railroad was taken out of Rapelje, and the population declined, as well as sales and business. Rapelje had fallen apart in the past few decades. The hotel burned down, the town hall was removed, the grocery store closed, and the murder of a wife and son occurred. However, some people stuck around and tried their hardest to keep the little town running. They relied on agriculture to keep the town alive, as well as the school and the sports they provided.
Culture
Rapelje is a "country" town, so their traditions are more rural. They used to have a bar called the "White Elephant" which was the main hangout place. They would frequently host dances.
24 Hours of Rapelje
The 24 Hours of Rapelje is a USA Cycling sanctioned endurance mountain bike race held on the weekend in June closest to the summer solstice. The race is coordinated by the local volunteers.
Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Rapelje has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.
Education
Rapelje School District educates students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Rapelje High School's team name is the Renegades.
